HINESVILLE — David Grayson scored a school-record 41 points to lead Bethesda Academy to a 70-65 victory over host First Presbyterian Thursday.

The senior, who has committed to Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina, also had five rebounds. He knocked down four 3-pointers and was 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in his record setting effort. Avery Joyner chipped in with five points and had seven assists for the Blazers, who improved to 19-3 on the year. Chris Guilfo led First Presbyterian with 19 points.

The team confirmed the hiring in a release Thursday night, saying Arians received a four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year.

The 60-year-old longtime assistant went 9-3 as Colts interim head coach while Chuck Pagano was undergoing treatment for leukemia last season.

Arians arrived in Arizona on Wednesday night, had dinner with top team officials, then interviewed on Thursday and met with reporters to indicate his interest in the job.

He was offered and accepted the job Thursday night. Arians also was a finalist for the Chicago job that went to Marc Trestman.

Arians was the sixth known candidate interviewed to replace Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after six seasons.

Whisenhunt was introduced on Thursday as the offensive coordinator for new head coach Mike McCoy in San Diego.

Mickelson opens season with 72 at Humana

LA QUINTA, Calif. — Phil Mickelson opened his season with an erratic even-par 72 on Thursday in the Humana Challenge, leaving him nine strokes behind the first-round leaders.

Recovering from flu-like symptoms, the 42-year-old Mickelson had three birdies, a bogey and double bogey at La Quinta Country Club — one of three courses used in the pro-am event.

Jason Kokrak, Roberto Castro and James Hahn topped the leaderboard at 9-under 63.

Former University of Georgia golfer Russell Henley, the Sony Open winner Sunday in his first start as a PGA Tour member, had a 64 on the Nicklaus course.

Pacino to play Paterno in upcoming movie

LOS ANGELES — Al Pacino will play Joe Paterno in a movie about the late Penn State football coach.

Producer Edward R. Pressman confirmed Brian De Palma will direct “Happy Valley,” the tentative title of the film, based on Joe Posnanski’s best-seller “Paterno.”

No start or release dates were given for the film.

Florida QB Brissett transfers to N.C. State

RALEIGH, N.C. — Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is transferring to North Carolina State from Florida.

N.C. State announced the addition of Brissett on Thursday and said he will sit out this season and have two years of eligibility beginning in 2014.

New Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren says he recruited Brissett when he was on the Wisconsin staff and “thinks the world of him as a competitor.”

Brissett made three starts and played in 13 games during two seasons with the Gators but was behind Jeff Driskel on the depth chart. He was 23 of 35 for 249 yards and a touchdown in 2012.

N.C. State said Brissett has enrolled for the spring semester and will take part in spring practice.

INTERNATIONAL

Rose, Donaldson lead by 1; McIlroy, Woods struggle

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — With Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods struggling, fifth-ranked Justin Rose and unheralded Jamie Donaldson had 5-under 67s Thursday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

McIlroy, playing with new clubs following his multimillion dollar sponsorship deal with Nike, finished with a 75 and risks missing the cut. Woods shot an even-par 72.

Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and Pablo Larrazabal of Spain finished one stroke behind the leaders.

McIllroy repeatedly missed fairways, including a shot on his 12th that hit a tree and ended up in a parking lot, leading to one of his two double bogeys. His other came when he muffed a chip in thick rough on his par-3 6th. He also putted poorly, missing a par putt on his 17th and a birdie putt on the 18th.

The top-ranked McIlroy insisted his difficulties had more to do with rusty strokes than the new equipment that he hyped only a few days ago. While he repeatedly slumped after a bad shot or frowned following a missed putt, the 2012 European Tour and U.S. PGA Tour money winner seemed resigned to adjusting to the new Nike clubs.